Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During works associated with the A20 road and sewer scheme remains of the Medieval Butchery Gate were located under a modern bridge spanning the River Dour. (Location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information).

Monument Types

• GATE (GATE, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1819 AD)

Full description

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Butchery Gate (site of). (1) The substantial tower once spanned the river Dour and remained largely intact until demolition in 1819, significant remains seem to have survived below ground level until the 1960's when construction of dual carriageway led to the total destruction of the complete Medieval arch. (2)

With the removal of the 1960s concrete road bridge in 1992, preparatory to the laying of a new branch sewer across the River Dour and the complete reconstruction of the bridge, traces of the former Butchery Gate gate-tower and the adjacent curtain wall were somewhat unexpectedly revealed. In the river bed, under a thin layer of modern river gravel, the eastern edge of the original medieval 'Hole' through the town wall was recorded adjacent to part of a massive base of mortared rubble which must represent the foundations of the gate-tower. (3)

This substantial tower once spanned the River Dour and remained largely intact until the early 19th century. In the late 18th century William Pattenden made a useful pen and ink drawing of the structure and several representations of it appear on early maps. (4)

The possible site of Butchery Gate is marked on Eldred's plans dating to 1641 (sheet 1/2)(5) and 1631 (6). Further historic cartographic sources depicting the former location of this Medieval gate include that by John Symonds dating to 1583-1584 (7) Thomas Miles dating to 1580 (8) Thomas Digges dating to 1581 (9) 1588 (10) and 1595 (11)

<1> W. Batcheller, 1836, The New Dover Guide (Monograph). SKE31913.

<2> Keith Parfitt, 1993, Canterbury Archaeology, 1992-1993: Fieldwork: Sites in Dover. Vol 18. (Article in serial). SKE31774.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, Dover Sewers/A20 Project 1991–3, Assessment Report and Updated Project Design (Unpublished document). SKE31815.

<4> Keith Parfitt, 1993, Canterbury Archaeology, 1992-1993: Fieldwork: Sites in Dover. Vol 18. (Article in serial). SKE31774.

<5> William Eldred, 1641, The Platt of Dover Castle Towne and Harbor (Map). SKE31804.

<6> William Eldred (?), 1631, Plan of lands belonging to the Priory and now to Master Buffkyn (Map). SKE31988.

<7> John Symonds, 1583-1584, Dover Harbour (Map). SKE32347.

<8> Thomas Miles, 1580, Proposal for Dover Harbour (Map). SKE31983.

<9> Thomas Digges, 1581, The State of Dover Haven (Map). SKE31984.

<10> Thomas Digges, 1588, Plan of Work at Dover Harbour (Map). SKE31986.

<11> Thomas Digges, 1595, The state of Dover Haven with the New workes (Map). SKE31987.

Sources and further reading

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